History of the Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society
Here in Northern California, the Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society is one such community of devotees with the mission: To establish a center for prayer and ministry dedicated to the Mercy of God, to spread the devotion to the Divine Mercy throughout the world, and to reach out in mercy to those in need. In 1998, under the name Divine Mercy Foundation, we formed a Board of 15 members, who lead our organization and make decisions. Soon thereafter, the Foundation was legally organized as a nonprofit organization under 501(c)(3). In 2005 our name was legally changed to Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society to have a better meaning of the Divine Mercy apostolate.

The Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society was founded by Thelma Orias, who in 1986 was miraculously healed. In 1990 she opened her heart to the Holy Spirit’s crystal clear inspiration to spread the Divine Mercy message and devotion to others in the Bay Area. The first task in this inspired mission, toward the end of 1990, was to donate an image of the Divine Mercy to St. Joseph Church in San Francisco. The image was enthroned and the first Feast of the Divine Mercy in the Bay Area was celebrated in April 1991. In 1992, we received the replica of the Divine Mercy image was from the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland. We brought this Divine Mercy Image to various homes, hospitals, and prayer groups to share and promote the Divine Mercy message. Now this Divine Mercy Image is at the Divine Mercy Chapel in El Cerrito, CA

In 1993, Sister Faustina was beatified by Pope Paul II, and this joyous event confirmed our inspiration to continue to spread the Divine Mercy message through public procession in San Francisco. And since 1994, we organize annual conferences, retreats, pilgrimages and other various activities in order to touch many people to experience the power of God’s love and mercy. Fr. Louis Vitali of St. Boniface Church in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco also opened his church’s doors to the enthronement of Divine Mercy. In November 1996, a Gospel concert was conducted in San Francisco to help raise funds to rebuild St. Boniface Church.

These early efforts ensured that more and more people would become aware of, and devoted to the Mercy of God. Priests and religious, who were loyal to our Church’s teachings and its leadership, began to support our activities. After witnessing the fruits of the Divine Mercy apostolate and seeing how the Holy Spirit was working powerfully, the Divine Mercy message spread throughout the greater Bay Area. Many bishops support and endorse the Divine Mercy message and devotion.

In August of 1999, we began a Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel and Center on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Church in El Cerrito. That same year, the Chapel became a place of Perpetual Adoration – then the only perpetual adoration chapel in the Oakland Diocese. Later part of the year, as an inspiration, we obtained a hand made monstrance (with red and white rays) to home the Blessed Sacrament that became a sign of God’s providence for all our works through the power of His mercy. Through this chapel we made a House of prayer, providing a central haven of spiritual healing, renewed hope, peace and a profound experience with God’s Mercy and Love. Our adorers immediately began signing up for at least an hour a day per week of commitment to adore Jesus, who is truly Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. We now have more than 200 regular adorers and many walk-in adorers who visit and give freely of their prayers and hopes. Numerous priests and religious grace our House of prayer and Chapel to celebrate Holy Mass and Novenas every Wednesday (To Our Mother of Perpetual Help), Thursday, and Friday (To the Sacred Heart of Jesus), as well as the Our Lady of Fatima devotion on First Saturdays. A Monthly Divine Mercy Cenacle is held here to familiarize people of all religious affiliations with the message of the Divine Mercy. Our Youth Ministry meets once a month in celebration of empowerment and leadership. And once a year many of those touched by the power of the Divine Mercy from the Bay Area and Northern California congregate for the Divine Mercy Feast Day (Mercy Sunday) on the second Sunday after Easter—an ultimate fulfillment to the powerful message of God’s merciful love.

In the spirit of preparing for the new Millennium and the Great Jubilee Year 2000, the Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II “Tertio Millennio Adveniente” became an inspiration for us. It says, “It is necessary to inspire in all the faithful a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for conversion and a personal renewal in a context of ever more intense prayer and solidarity with one’s neighbors, especially the most needy.” The canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska in April 2000 in Rome was a very fulfilling confirmation of our mission. Fifty-five devotees from our Bay Area Divine Mercy group witnessed the canonization.

Prayer is not complete without exercising God’s mercy, as Jesus told Sr. Faustina: “Be merciful to others.” In August 2002, as a fruit of our prayers and adorations, our first Corporal Work of Mercy, Mary’s House, was opened to share the message of Mercy. Mary’s House is the only formal pregnancy and maternity facility in Contra Costa County providing residential care to single, homeless, and pregnant women in crisis. Mary’s House is located across from St. Paul Church in San Pablo, CA, The 13-bedroom facility was formerly the Friary of the Conventual Franciscans in San Pablo. A volunteer thrift store, located in the front of the facility, is open to the public and is a source of additional income to support the Mary’s House costs (along with donations and pledges). In the rear of the facility we have prepared a pleasant private garden and next to it is an Adoration Chapel, which is open everyday for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Since it’s founding, Mary’s House has provided a stable and supportive environment of faith for 95 women and their infants. Approximately half of these women maintain contact with us and are doing extremely well as they move forward in their lives, jobs or a stable life with the father of their child.

Both the Divine Mercy Chapel and Center in El Cerrito and the Mary’s House in San Pablo are facilities of the Diocese of Oakland.

All our inspired ministries were born through trust in Jesus and the power of His providence. Trusting completely in Jesus, which is the essence of the Divine Mercy message and devotion, is our only way to fulfill His inspirations.